Politics
Govt swallowed foreign reserves: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Thursday said the government has swallowed the foreign currency reserves as it created a grave economic crisis in the country through widespread corruption.
Speaking at a rally, he also questioned the justification of spending money from foreign reserves in the construction of Payra Seaport.
"The main reason behind the country's economic crisis is the corruption of the government. You have brought the economy to the brink of collapse by indulging in theft in every sector over the last 14 years,” Fakhrul said.
He said BNP has the right to ask the government about where the money from the reserves has gone. “The Prime Minister said no one can chew up the money from the reserves. You (govt) have not chewed it, but you have swallowed money from the reserves.”
Slamming the Prime Minister for her remarks that money from reserves went to Payra Seaport, the BNP leader said the reserves money is not meant for the construction of a port.
"Reserves money is supposed to be used to pay bills for imported goods in dollars. Reserves money is also meant for using to tackle a situation when there is an economic crisis in the country,” he observed.
Quoting economists and experts, Fakhrul said Payra Seaport will not be productive and viable as it lacks the required navigability for ships to come to the port. “They’re now using super dredger for the navigability by spending Tk6,500 crore. You installed the super dredger there creating further scope for theft.”
Jatiyatabadi Jubo Dal, BNP’s youth wing, arranged the rally in front of the party’s Nayapaltan central office, marking its 44th founding anniversary. Thousands of leaders and activists of the party from different areas of the capital joined the rally carrying the photos of BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and acting chairman Tarique Rahman.
Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister virtually inaugurated some development projects, including capital dredging at Payra, aiming to equip it with better facilities for smooth operations.
Speaking at the programme, the PM said, “Many may wonder where the reserves money went. Money from forex reserves went to Payra Port, procuring food for the people, fertiliser, and meeting the daily needs of people… No one can chew up that money. That is (forex reserves) for the people. We are using that for import and other necessary purposes.”
Fakhrul said the government has become unnerved seeing the wave of people towards BNP’s recent three divisional rallies.
He said the BNP rallies have made the ruling party so much nervous that it is now trying to stop the opposition's such programmes by enforcing bus and transport strikes using the transport owners. “Don’t you be ashamed of yourself? What a coward you are! You’re using the unions of the transport owners and workers to call strikes to stop the peaceful rallies of the opposition.”
The BNP leader said the government tried to obstruct BNP’s rallies in Chattogram, Mymensingh and Khulna by enforcing strikes by the transport owners and workers, but could not resist people from joining BNP’s programmes.
He bemoaned that transport strikes have been announced in advance in Rangpur and Barishal to foil BNP’s planned rallies in the two divisions.
Fakhrul urged the transport owners to stay with people and not to cause public sufferings by enforcing strikes only to help a ‘fascist’ regime, which has been snatching people’s rights.
He alleged that the Awami League government wants to suppress the movement by resorting to shooting and repressive acts. “But the country’s people and the youth won’t let it happen.”
The BNP leader also accused the government of destroying the country’s electoral system. “It (govt) has made the Election Commission which the DCs and SPs don’t care and they won’t be to hold elections."
He categorically said no election will be held in the country without a non-party caretaker government.
Fakhrul urged the government to quit by handing over power to a non-party caretaker government, paving the way for holding a credible election by forming a new election commission.
BNP leaders indulged in spreading politically-motivated falsehoods: Quader
Awami League general secretary Obaidul Quader on Thursday said without considering the critical global situation, the BNP leaders irresponsibly are indulged in spreading various politically-motivated falsehoods.
In a democratic system, every opposition party has responsibility and duty towards the country and the people but Mirza Fakhrul Islam and his party leaders don’t play the role of a responsible opposition and rather continue their usual politics of lies and confusion, he said in a statement.
“It is natural that those who could not add even a single unit of electricity to the national grid during their tenure would make unwise remarks over today's crisises,” he said adding the BNP government also opened fire on people for waging movements to press home their demand for electricity.
Quader, also the Road Transport and Bridges Minister, said the world is now passing through an unexpected crisis and the world's largest economies are also facing a serious economic crisis.
The crises for electricity and gas have been created alongside the price-hike of food and other daily essentials in almost all the countries of the world including Europe and America. So, Bangladesh is also facing the crisis, he said.
He said the country’s people have not forgotten that the party during its regime institutionalized corruption by opening Hawa Bhaban as well as turned Bangladesh into a failed state through their anti-people policies and looting of public funds.
The AL general secretary said the government under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina is making continuous efforts to offset the crisis.
Quader urged the people of the country to keep faith in Sheikh Hasina. Bangladesh will be able to face this crisises with the collective efforts amid patience and responsible behavior through specific plans taken by Sheikh Hasina, he added.
EC will look into the matter if Jamaat seeks registration under different name: Info Minister
Information Minister Hasan Mahmud on Thursday said if Bangladesh Jamaat-e Islami apply for the registration under different name then it will come under the notice of the Election Commission (EC).
“The Election Commission will surely look into the matter,” the minister said in response to a question from reporters at the Secretariat.
Hasan said any political party can apply to the EC to get registered and it is the EC which will decide whether any party will be given registration or not.
His remarks came amid reports that all leaders of newly launched Bangladesh Democratic Party (BDP) that sought EC’s registration belong to Jamaat and its student front Shibir. BDP filed for registration on Wednesday.
In 2013, the High Court declared the registration of Jamaat-e-Islami with the EC illegal effectively banning it from taking part in general elections. In 2018, the EC formally deregistered the Islamic fundamentalist party as it failed to fulfill its prerequisites.
However, Jamaat is still operating as a legal political party amid calls from the secular forces to ban it for its role in the genocide during the Liberation War it vehemently opposed.
However, on Wednesday, Election Commissioner Md Alamgir said that Bangladesh Jamaat-e Islami can get registered with the EC under a different name if they fulfill all the conditions.
Alamgir said the registration of Jamaat-e-Islami was cancelled as its charter was not consistent with the Constitution and the spirit of the Liberation War.
Govt won’t send Khaleda back to jail before election: Law Minister
The government will not send BNP Chairperson Khaleda Zia back to jail before the next national election, Law Minister Anisul Huq said today (October 27, 2022).
The minister made the remark in response to a question from reporters, after a training programme organised for sub-registrars at Judicial Administration Training Institute in Dhaka.
The government has no plan to change the decision of suspending Khaleda Zia’s sentence as per section 401 of the Criminal Code of Procedure (CrPC) with two conditions, Anisul added.
Read more: Gatco graft case: Charge framing hearing against Khaleda deferred to Jan 29
On September 19, the government extended the suspension of Khaleda’s jail sentence for six more months.
Amid the Coronavirus outbreak, the government suspended Khaleda’s jail sentence for six months through an executive order on March 25, 2020.
The government extended her conditional release in two corruption cases several times.
Read more: Law to determine Khaleda Zia’s election eligibility: Law Minister
The former prime minister was sent to Old Dhaka’s Central Jail after she was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment by a special court in the Zia Orphanage Trust corruption case on February 8, 2018.
She was convicted in a second corruption case later.
The 76-year-old BNP chief Khaleda Zia has been staying at her Gulshan residence since her release from jail. A special team of her personal physicians has been overseeing her treatment.
Read AL wants to score in empty field: BNP
Over 20 injured after police obstruct BNP volunteers’ march in Port City; 10 detained
At least 20 persons, including four police officers, were injured in a clash between the law enforcers and the opposition BNP’s voluntary wing, the Jatiyotabadi Swechhasebak Dal (JSD), over the latter bringing out a celebratory procession in Chittagong on Wednesday.
Police detained 10 leaders and activists of the JSD from the spot, after the clash that occurred in front of the BNP’s party office on the city’s Nur Ahmed Road.
Towhidul Islam, former assistant general secretary of South District Swechhasebak Dal, alleged the police fired rubber bullets and lobbed tear shells at them without any provocation when they brought out a procession over the formation of their convening committee.
Read: BNP activists say ‘obstructed’ from joining rally, clash with police at Khulna Station
“At least 25 activists including Member Secretary Jamir Uddin Manik were injured in the police attack,” Towhidul claimed.
Besides, several activists including the new committee’s convenor Manjur Alam were detained in this connection, he said.
Jahedul Kabir, officer-in-charge of Kotwali police station, said Swachhasebak men hurled brickbats targeting cops when they were asked to leave the busy Navy intersection to ease traffic movement.
“Four of our members sustained injuries in the wild attack by the BNP men,” the OC said, adding that 10 people were detained from the spot following the incident.
A process was underway to file a case in this connection, he added.
Jamaat-e-Islami can get registered if conditions are met, says commissioner Alamgir
Election Commissioner Md Alamgir said on Wednesday that Bangladesh Jamaat-e Islami can get registration under a different name if they fulfill all the conditions.
“If anyone seeks registration, they will have to come up as a new party. If they fulfill all the conditions, they will get registration. And if they fail, they will not get it,” he said.
He made the comment when he talked to reporters at his office at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city’s Agargaon area.
Read:Bangladesh Development Party seeks EC registration
Alamgir said the registration of Jamaat-e-Islami was cancelled as its charter was not consistent with the Constitution and the spirit of the Liberation War.
“If now any new political party applies for registration and their charter is consistent with our Constitution and the spirit of the Liberation War, there is no war criminal among them and fulfills all other conditions, you can’t brand someone as a Jamaat man,” he said.
He, however, said there is no scope for any party to get registered as Jamaat-e-Islami now.
The deadline for new political parties to apply for registration will expire on October 30.
The High Court declared the registration of Jamaat-e-Islami illegal in 2013 and the EC cancelled its registration in 2018.
Read:EC directed to fix new date for Noakhali Zila Parishad election
Replying to another question, he said the provision for the registered political parties to ensure at least 33 percent women in their all-level committees by 2030 was not so realistic.
“Those who incorporate it in the law didn’t consider the reality,” he said, adding that the political parties were also not so sincere to fulfill the provision.
Alamgir said the Election Commission has now recommended the extension of the deadline for fulfilling the target to 2030.
According to the Representation of Public Order, a registered political party needs to fix the goal of reserving at least 33 percent of all committee positions for women including the central committee and successively achieving this goal by 2020.
But the political parties failed to meet the goal by 2020.
Bangladesh Development Party seeks EC registration
A new political organization named Bangladesh Development Party has sought to be registered with the Election Commission amid reports it has links with Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh.
The leaders of the new party, however, denied any connection with Jamaat, which had lost its registration with the EC following a High Court order.
Bangladesh Development Party on Wednesday submitted 50,000 pages of documents with its application signed by its general secretary Nizamul Haque.
The chairman of the new party is Advocate Anwarul Islam.
Media reports say Nizamul Haque is former leader of Islami Chhatra Shibir, a student organization backed by Jamaat.
After submission of application papers Anwarul told reporters that they have no connection with Jamaat.
In 2013, the High Court declared the registration of Jamaat illegal.
In 2018, the Election Commission cancelled the registration of Jamaat following the court's order.
Rain-induced waterlogging in capital city an outcome of unplanned mega projects: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir blamed the waterlogging in parts of the capital and the Dhaka-Mymensingh highway in the wake of heavy rains caused by Cyclone Sitrang on the government's unplanned mega projects.
"I came here facing a lot of difficulties as Uttara road was closed today (Tuesday). The DMP Commissioner issued a circular not to use this road,” he said.
Speaking at the founding anniversary programme of the Daily Nayadiganta at its Motijheel office, he said the road from Airport to Gazipur is no longer passable due to the rains caused by Cyclone Sitrang. “This is the result of the unplanned mega projects and mega development. This waterlogging has been created because of their (govt’s) mega projects.”
Read:Sitrang aftermath: Some areas in southern districts still without power
Earlier in the day, Dhaka Metropolitan Police requested commuters to avoid the route from Khilkhet through Uttara to Gazipur due to a long tailback triggered by waterlogging at points where the construction of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) has been going on for 10 years.
Uttara Traffic Department of Dhaka Metropolitan Police issued an alert, saying that heavy rain induced by Cyclone Sitrang has caused waterlogging at different points in Gazipur on Dhaka-Mymensingh road.
Fakhrul said the nation is passing through a terrible time as the government has obliterated democracy by snatching people’s voting and all other rights.
He said they participated in the Liberation War in 1971 with the goal of establishing a democratic Bangladesh ensuring people’s all rights.
The BNP leader bemoaned that Awami League has first destroyed the spirit of the Liberation War by establishing a one-party rule, snatching people’s democratic rights, and shutting down newspapers in 1975. “In the same way, they again took away people’s rights. We have to overcome this situation with great patience, with great courage and we have to win.”
He said the current constitution should be amended further to materialise the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of the Liberation War.
The BNP leader said the ruling party has annulled the caretaker government provision, which had been introduced for ensuring a way for the peaceful transfer of power, by amending the constitution. “So, this system must be restored by amending the constitution.
Read: Cyclone Sitrang kills at least 25 across Bangladesh
"We'll constitute a constitutional commission if we can win the polls with the people's mandate. We’ll scrap all the undemocratic and anti-people things that have been incorporated in the constitution…we’ll try to come up with a truly time-befitting constitution based on what the people need,” Fakhrul said.
The BNP leader said he thinks the current constitution of the country has failed to fulfill the aspirations of the people. “The constitution should be based on what the people of this country want.”
Fakhrul urged the journalists to play a role in turning Bangladesh into a very progressive country creating an environment for exercising freedom of expression and free thought and ensuring equality and justice in the true sense. Continue the role that you have played in the past to make Bangladesh a welfare state having justice and humane values.”
AL has destroyed country's political structure: Fakhrul
BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday alleged that the current Awami League government has destroyed the political structure of the country by revoking the caretaker government system.
“Awami League has destroyed the political structure that we established in 1991 through many setbacks and struggles. As per that political structure, the government would be formed through a democratic election,” he said.
Speaking at a discussion, the BNP leader said Awami League enforced hartal for 173 days with a demand for the introduction of the caretaker government. “Jatiya Party and Jamaat were with them.
He said the then BNP government in 1996 introduced the caretaker government system and four credible and acceptable elections were held under it. “But when they (AL) could understand that people would not vote for them for their misdeeds from 2009-2011, they annulled the caretaker government system with the help of Justice Khairul Haque.”
Later, he said the government has politicised the judiciary which now dictates what the political structure of the country will be. “Thus they destroyed our political structure.”
Ziaur Rahman Foundation arranged the programme at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, marking its 23rd founding anniversary
Where the money has gone:
Fakhrul said the government has also destroyed the country’s economic structure through widespread looting and stealing. “Nothing is happening here, except theft. The main motive behind all mega projects is theft. In this way, they’re taking entire Bangladesh towards destruction. “We must free Bangladesh again from misrule and restore people’s rights”
EC defends its use of CCTV in polling booths against unfounded claims
The Election Commission has dismissed the speculation aired by members of the government that its installation of CCTV cameras in polling booths of the recently-scrapped Gaibandha-5 by-election violated the citizens'[ voting rights in any way, or more specifically that it deprived them of the secrecy and non-disclosure they are entitled to with regards to their vote.
The EC has described the claims as 'inappropriate' and 'misleading'.
"The installation of CCTV cameras polling booths was to monitor the situation of the election activities. It was not possible to watch who voted for which symbol and show it to others," the EC said in a press release circulated on Sunday.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud on Wednesday had said installation of CCTV cameras in secret polling booths is infringement of privacy and infringes on the fundamental rights of the citizens.
“The secret booths will no longer remain secret, if CCTV cameras are installed there to see who votes for which symbol and show it to others. If so, it would be infringement of privacy as per the opinions of the legal experts,” he said.
The Election Commission installed CCTV cameras in the polling stations to monitor the Gaibandha-5 by-polls remotely from Dhaka and cancelled the election, witnessing ‘massive irregularities’ through the CCTV cameras.
The commission said the EC only monitors if any unwanted person enters or chaos and violence takes place there though CCTV.
EC takes all measures within its powers to preserve the secrecy of the voters during voting according to the existing laws, it added.
The Commission also called upon all responsible figures to cooperate for making any election fair and neutral by avoiding misleading speeches.